Hayride Investigation Has New Details 6 injured one in critical condition

Note: If North Carolina would have required these Utility Trailers to have Reflector Tape as required in Virginia (Which the Utility Trailer industry has fought) maybe the driver would have seen the trailer.

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Hayride Investigation Has New Details

Posted by: Brian Formica Posted by: Justin Quesinberry Created: 10/18/2008 11:13:45 PM Updated: 10/21/2008 10:14:16 AM

Guilford County, NC - A ten-year-old boy has broken bones and a blood clot on his brain after a crash involving a hayride, according to Highway Patrol Trooper T.G. Wilson.

The boy was one of six kids taken to local hospitals Saturday night. The injured kids range in age from 10-14, according to a firefighter. He said four were taken to Moses Cone, two went to High Point Regional.

Someone hit a trailer carrying 22 football players and cheerleaders from Southern Guilford Middle School.

It happened around 8 p.m. on Groometown Road near Highway 62.

A firefighter says someone in a Saturn hit the trailer from behind, and then a truck hit that car.

Several kids were ejected from the trailer. The ten year old most seriously injured was pinned between the trailer and car.

"He went over to that side of the road, but another truck was coming down that way, so he had to swerve back over here and he hit us in the back," said Owen Short, who was on the ride.

"There was about five people down, four of them on the side, and there's a little boy who was laying beside the car, screaming and hollering," said Zachary Deweese who was on the ride.

Highway Patrol told WFMY News 2 the tractor did have lights. The lights, however, were small and not the proper equipment needed for driving the tractor on the road. The proper equipment was on the tractor, but not hooked up.

Parents told WFMY News 2 that the lights were working as she saw the trailer leave for the hayride.

Trooper Tim Wilson said Garry Thayer, 55, the driver of the tractor will be issued a citation for not having the lights on. That citation is approximately $150.

The driver who hit the trailer will not face any charges. Wilson said the driver was going below the speed limit.

Wilson said there is no law preventing hayrides on roads. He said many hayrides spend only short periods of time on roads.

"The problem came in was there wasn't any lights, it's like pulling a regular trailor, you need to have some reflectors, some lights on it so it can be seen," said Wilson.

"I was terrified. People were yelling car, car, and I saw people just jumping off," said 12 year old Hannah Monk. She was on the hayride when someone hit the trailer from behind.

"That was the longest run of my life last night, to try and figure out if my child was hurt, or anyone else's," said Hannah's mother Denise Monk.

Hannah has a bruise from Saturday night's crash.

"We were have never put our kids on there if we thought they were in danger. They were our kids," said Denise Monk.

Douglass B. Garland of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol sent us the following statement:

"A 1980 Massey Ferguson tractor was traveling south on Groomtown Road at approximately 5 mph. The tractor was pulling a two axle low-boy type trailer with approximately 20 kids on a hay ride. A 2001 Saturn passenger car was also traveling south on Groomtown Road at approximately 55 mph. The driver was unable to see the tractor and trailer because the trailer had no reflectors on the rear. The trailer did have lights but were not hooked up and inoperable. The tractor did have lights on the rear but were not visible due to the height of the trailer and passengers. The Saturn attempted to avoid a wreck and attempted to swerve to the left. The right front of the Saturn struck the left rear of the trailer. The left front of the Saturn struck the front concentrated portion of a 2002 Chevrolet pickup which was traveling north on Groomtown Road. Six children were transported to the hospital. I am unable to confirm any report of injuries to the children. The investigation is ongoing and charges are pending. Trooper Wilson will return to work on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m."